Photo: S. Baldauf/SB-Medien
Back in 2012 when it debuted, the new A-Class marked the beginning of a new era in the design of Mercedes-Benz cars. Not that the Stuttgart offerings were hideous to look at before, but the A-Class really was an eye-opener.
That probably has to do with the fact that it replaced one of the ugliest cars Mercedes-Benz ever built, even though it did manage to tone down its repulsiveness in the later models. But monkey on the shoulder aside, the new A-Class dealt a heavy blow to BMW's 1 Series and Audi's A3, establishing itself quickly as a prime contender in the premium compact segment.
The A-Class mainly has two types of customers: those who really want a Mercedes-Benz but can't afford the larger models, or those who love Mercedes-Benz vehicles, are probably long-time owners and have suddenly developed the need for a compact car. Needless to say, it was the former category that brought the company a large number of first-time buyers, and that can spell profit in the long term.
After a facelifting process for the entire compact range that carried over many months, Mercedes-Benz is now getting ready for the second A-Class generation after the model stopped being a disoriented MPV and turned into a beautiful hatchback. We don't expect the design changes to be too extensive, but the new A-Class should appear more elegant, more high-class. On the inside, though, the dashboard will finally be decluttered and replaced by a center console in tone with what we've seen on later models (think C-Class).
Technically speaking, it all comes down to the new MFA2 (Modular Front Architecture) platform. The changes will give the new compact range, A-Class included, better handling and improved comfort thanks to the increased wheelbase and track width. It will also make the interior a bit roomier, even though we wouldn't expect anything too dramatic. We're talking mere centimeters here, so if you have long legs, then it'll probably still be better to stay away from those rear seats.
The engine lineup will see some new faces as Mercedes-Benz is giving up on the Renault-sourced small-displacement diesel engines and going for its own, modular designs. That means the new A-Class will follow BMW's lead and go for three-cylinder units, something that sounds a lot worse than it actually will be. Sure, performances won't be great, but at least they'll return a very nice mileage and won't rattle the place or hurt your years as older three-cylinder diesels used to.
Of course, we should expect AMG to get involved as well, and following the superbly brutal A45, we can't say we're not excited. Expect over 400 horsepower from the top version as well as a more proletarian one called the A40 that will offer a more manageable 300 hp output. There are also rumors about a hybrid version which should delight those who like their cars more technologically advanced. The new A-Class is still about one year away from us, but you can while the time away by looking at these pictures of it running around the Green Hell.
The A-Class mainly has two types of customers: those who really want a Mercedes-Benz but can't afford the larger models, or those who love Mercedes-Benz vehicles, are probably long-time owners and have suddenly developed the need for a compact car. Needless to say, it was the former category that brought the company a large number of first-time buyers, and that can spell profit in the long term.
After a facelifting process for the entire compact range that carried over many months, Mercedes-Benz is now getting ready for the second A-Class generation after the model stopped being a disoriented MPV and turned into a beautiful hatchback. We don't expect the design changes to be too extensive, but the new A-Class should appear more elegant, more high-class. On the inside, though, the dashboard will finally be decluttered and replaced by a center console in tone with what we've seen on later models (think C-Class).
Technically speaking, it all comes down to the new MFA2 (Modular Front Architecture) platform. The changes will give the new compact range, A-Class included, better handling and improved comfort thanks to the increased wheelbase and track width. It will also make the interior a bit roomier, even though we wouldn't expect anything too dramatic. We're talking mere centimeters here, so if you have long legs, then it'll probably still be better to stay away from those rear seats.
The engine lineup will see some new faces as Mercedes-Benz is giving up on the Renault-sourced small-displacement diesel engines and going for its own, modular designs. That means the new A-Class will follow BMW's lead and go for three-cylinder units, something that sounds a lot worse than it actually will be. Sure, performances won't be great, but at least they'll return a very nice mileage and won't rattle the place or hurt your years as older three-cylinder diesels used to.
Of course, we should expect AMG to get involved as well, and following the superbly brutal A45, we can't say we're not excited. Expect over 400 horsepower from the top version as well as a more proletarian one called the A40 that will offer a more manageable 300 hp output. There are also rumors about a hybrid version which should delight those who like their cars more technologically advanced. The new A-Class is still about one year away from us, but you can while the time away by looking at these pictures of it running around the Green Hell.
Google News